Vandal caught on security system headbutting window at South Tyneside home

Magistrates were told the householder left her property at 9am on Saturday, June 29, and was later tipped off that a window at her home had been broken.

She connected to her remote security device which provided images of Steven Corner, 46, of Birkdale, near Westoe, South Shields, outside her property in the town.

Prosecutor Laura Lax told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court the householder “provided a statement that on June 29 that 9am she had gone to a wedding and her home had been secured.

“But that night she received a phone call that a window had been broken. She used an app and saw a male kicking and punching and headbutting a window, forcing one to shatter.

“He continued to headbutt a second window, but it didn’t break. Police were called and found Mr Corner unsteady on his feet and with bleeding to his head. He claimed that he had been mugged.”

At the time of the offence Corner was subject to 24-week jail term, suspended for 18 months, for possession of a bladed weapon, the court heard.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the victim said that the incident had made her fear for her safety and she was now unable to sleep properly.

Geoffrey Forrester, defending, said Corner thought it was his home he was at and and described the incident as a ‘single lapse’ that should not result in him being jailed for the offence.

Mr Forrester said: “He was convinced it was his own house. He suffered quite a serious head injury. The police took him to the hospital.

“I would ask you to turn away from activating the suspended sentence. This is a lapse, a single lapse.”

Sentencing Corner pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to property valued at under £5,000.

Magistrates extended the operational period of his suspended sentence by six months.

He was also ordered to pay Mrs Leighton £300 compensation and pay £85 court costs.